Feb. 5, 2010 — Week 3
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman, Sheila Schimpf & Vic Rauch
SHERIFFS AHEAD: Your correspondents will interview Terry Jungel, executive director of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, on Monday, Feb. 8. Likely topics include county jail overcrowding, cuts in law enforcement personnel and crime and highway safety legislation.
HERE’S YOUR FILE:
MICHIGANBEES: The buzz is that bees, essential to crops such as apples and blueberries, are in sharp decline due to colony collapse disorder and other threats to their survival. The number of beekeepers in the state has dropped by half over the past 20 years. The Michigan Beekeeping Society president, from Holt, the Southeast chapter and a Michigan State entomologist explain the scope and impact of the problems. A Detroit group is encouraging urban residents to take up the hobby. For news and agriculture desks. By Megan Durisin. FOR GREENVILLE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, LAPEER, MACOMB, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, TRAVERSE CITY, CLARE, LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, OAKLAND,, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK & ALL POINTS.
w/BEESPHOTO: Bees in a hive. Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture.
GRAVELROADS: Montcalm County is one of a growing number of counties that are turning some deteriorating roads into gravel because it’s too expensive to repave them. The Kalamazoo County Road Commission says it has no such plans and notes that it also costs money to repair and maintain gravel roads. By Chantal Cook. FOR GREENVILLE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.
TERMLIMITS: Many government officials and experts say the state should reconsider restructuring Michigan’s current term limits for legislators, arguing that the current system breeds inexperience. For example, a Grosse Pointe representative wants to let legislators serve any combination 14 years in the House and Senate rather than restricting them to eight in the Senate and six in the House. But a former Macomb lawmaker says leave things as they are. We interview a first-termer from Traverse City and a term-limited lobbyist from Manistee. Some co-sponsors are from Detroit, Holland, Southfield and Constantine. By Daniel Opsommer. FOR MACOMB, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, TRAVERSE CITY, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND & ALL POINTS.
CASINOS: Public schools would be able to set up college scholarship funds with proceeds from tribal casinos in their districts under legislation proposed by senators from St. Joseph, Norton Shores and Battle Creek. A Hannahville Indian Community lawyer says it’s a good idea, especially in areas such as the Upper Peninsula where school population is dropping. Michigan has 12 federally recognized tribes that operate casinos at 19 locations. Under a compact with the state, tribal casinos, which are exempt from taxes, pay 2 percent of their net win for local governments. By Chenqi Guo. FOR SOUTH BEND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, MARQUETTE, TRAVERSE CITY, ST. IGNACE, PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON & ALL POINTS.
CARPSUMMIT: Gov. Granholm heads to Washington for a White House summit Monday with other Lake Michigan governors and federal officials to discuss controlling the invasive Asian carp. Michigan is particularly worried about the carp spreading from Lake Michigan into inland rivers and streams, where they threaten to severely damage the habitat of other species. We talk to the attorney general’s office, the Office of the Great Lakes and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. By Brandon Howell. FOR HOLLAND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, LUDINGTON, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.
WATERASSESSMENT: The Department of Natural Resources and Environment reports improvements in four major water quality measures, but not in the safety of eating fish. Concerns include mercury and PCBs. Meanwhile, the Clinton River Watershed Council is seeking grants for four environmental projects, including fish and wildlife habitat improvement. By Danielle Emerson. FOR MACOMB, LAPEER, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, OAKLAND, ROYAL OAK & ALL POINTS.
NEWSULFIDE: A Canadian-Michigan joint venture may be next in line after Kennecott’s Eagle project for a state permit to use sulfide-mining techniques to extract valuable ores in the Upper Peninsula. Local residents, calling themselves the Front Forty, oppose the Back Forty proposal for Menominee County, as does the Sierra Club. The president of a mining exploration company in Stephenson says the mine would be safe and boost the local economy. The state Geological Office explains permit requirements. By Laura Fosmire. FOR MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE & ALL POINTS.
SAFETRAILS: Lawmakers are considering a safety proposal to require hunter orange chains and ropes that block trails and other access points used by outdoor recreational enthusiasts, such as ATVers and snowmobilers. The legislation is motivated by an Upper Peninsula accident in which an ATV user died. The Farm Bureau has withdrawn its objection to the bill. The Michigan Snowmobile Association in Grand Rapids favors the measure. Sponsors are from Hancock, Rudyard, Alpena and Marquette. By Josh Garvey. FOR LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CADILLAC, ALPENA, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, GREENVILLE, CLARE, GLADWIN & ALL POINTS.
LARGEWORKLOAD: The state’s high unemployment rate has sharply increased the number of people seeking public assistance, food stamps and other support, swamping Department of Human Services caseworkers. We look at the situation statewide and in Lenawee County. The UAW local representing caseworkers says some have been threatened or assaulted by frustrated clients. That situation may worsen if the state adopts the governor’s proposal for early retirement incentives, the Michigan League for Human Services warns. By Christine Homan. FOR BLISSFIELD, LANSING, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, OAKLAND, MACOMB, ROYAL OAK & ALL POINTS.
ECOSURFERS: Great Lakes surfers are becoming environmental activists, as reflected in the work of the Lake Michigan chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, headed by a Grand Haven man. The group lobbies for protection of the lakes, supports water quality testing by Grand Valley State University and a wildlife federation, and pushes for better beach access. By Haley Walker. FOR HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, SOUTH BEND, MARQUETTE, CHEBOYGAN, ALPENA, ST. IGNACE & ALL POINTS.
w/ECOSURFERPHOTO: Surfer at Grand Haven Pier. Credit: Ingrid Lindfors, Surfrider Foundation.
LAKEBUOYS: Scientists based in Ann Arbor have deployed squadrons of buoys into Grand Traverse Bay and Little Traverse Bay and other spots in lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie to research nearshore conditions, including algae, wave direction and height, air temperature and pressure, wind speed, and water temperature. The robots gather data essential for research, except in winter when conditions are too rugged for them to stay in the water. By Kimberly Hirai and Sara Coefield. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CHEBOYGAN, ALPENA, MARQUETTE, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, ST. IGNACE & ALL POINTS.
w/LAKEBUOYPHOTO: Scientists deploy Great Lakes research buoy. Credit: Guy Meadows, University of Michigan.
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